PEOPLE

World War II museum to showcase Bob Hope

Exhibit to recognize comedian’s impact on troops

Comedian Bob Hope entertains sailors of the U.S. 6th Fleet Saratoga at the flagship's anchorage in the southern Italian port of Gaeta, in this Dec. 19, 1970 file photo. An exhibit called Bob Hope: An American Treasure will celebrate the beloved comedian at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS — Bob Hope entertained 11 presidents at the White House, hosted the Academy Awards 19 times, and told thousands of jokes to some 10 million U.S. troops over the course of four wars.

Now the long life and legacy of the beloved actor and comedian, who died 10 years ago at age 100, is being celebrated at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, where the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum has brought the “Bob Hope: An American Treasure” traveling exhibition.

More than 160 mementos from Hope’s life capture his passion for golf, relationships with presidents, pride in his country, and appreciation for military service. The exhibit officially opens today.

The exhibit includes vintage photographs of Hope entertaining troops at USO shows overseas, an honorary Oscar statuette, and PGA of America money clip. But the highlight is Hope’s jokes, which are printed on displays and included in video clips throughout the exhibit.

“It was important to make it funny,” said Jack Peter, senior vice president of the World Golf Hall of Fame and Museum. “That was one of the requests of the family.”

And funny it is.

“I left England when I found out I couldn’t be king” is the Hope quote in the section of the exhibit about his immigration to America from England as a young boy.

There are pictures and jokes of Hope’s time spent playing golf with presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, and others.

The exhibit also captures Hope’s appreciation for military service. There are pictures and video of Hope entertaining during World War II, Vietnam, and other wars.

“This brings another aspect of the war that we’re not always able to tell through our permanent exhibits,” said Toni Kiser, the National WWII Museum’s curator who put the exhibit together. “It was really important to the troops to get rest and relaxation, and not only did they love to be entertained with music and comedy, it was necessary for them to have that down time, to not be in fight mode the entire time.”

The exhibit will be on display in New Orleans through Oct. 31.